The Portland daily press., 1887-05-07
PIGEON FLYING.
a Sport that is Becoming Very Popu-
lar In America.

A carrier pigeon was found dead in farm
yard at Chester, Va, the other day. The
finder did not know carrier from any other
kind of pigeon, but as he was idly examin-
ing the bird he noticed little tag attached
to the feathers. On this was written these
figures, O563, and the words:
'If caught or shot, report this number to
Starr, New York"
It was good deal Of mystery still to the
finder, but after speaking to few friends
ABOUT it be found one who knew that the
bird was a carrier, and had been sent out on
a race. A message was accordingly sent to
'Starr, New York." as requested on the
tag. "Starr, New York." is little woman
who devotes herself to the interests of pig
con flying, and keeps the run of about all
the birds in this country. To find her one
has to climb four dark flights to the top of
rickety old building at the corner of Cort-
landt and Washington streets. AS she is an
enthusiast upon the subject, visitors who
want to learn anything about pigeons find
ready welcome and no little information All
pigeon flyers, and their number is increasing
every year, send her accounts Of their birds,
and in the event of a race the birds them
selves are sometimes sent also to be regis
tered. But as rule she is notified as soon
as bird is Matched and she makes such en-
tries in her wondrous record book as fix that
bird identity until he dies of old age or a
shot from a careless hunter.
When she received word that 0563 had been
picked up dead, she referred to her books
and found that one of the most remarkable
birds in the land had been lost To be sure,
all the pigeon flyers had given this bird up
months ago, for he had not been heard of
since last OQf0hnr hut Kpaxu hot
became of him. The bird was owned by
William Bennert, of Newark, n. j., one Of
the centres Of pigeon flying interest. The
bird had not been named. 1t was a blue male
and was Matched In the spring of 1886. 1t
had been In three races, in one of which it
was among the six that made the best rec
ord to Newark, and the feat was second only
| to the best young fly bird in America. The
best record was made by Philadelphia pig
| cons in 1883.
In the case of O563 the start was made at
| Liberty, Va, from which place to Neward it
| Is 1868 miles, air line. The birds were liberat-
| ed at 6 :25 on the morning Of October !, 1886,
and the first bird to report at its loft in New
| ark arrived at IA p. IN. of the same day. A
| few minutes later 0563 came in, and his av-
erage speed for the journey was 1909 yards
| minute. About week later this bird with
three others was taken to Morgantown, N.
O., 527 miles from home. None Of them
1
Mrs. Starr thinks that pigeon flying has
| come to be standard gentleman's sport in
| America. AT present the amusement is free
from all Objectionable features, and as each
year passes Improvements are made in the
method OF keeping the records of the birds.
New books have been opened this spring
| which in a few years will be of great value
to lovers of the sport, for they
| will contain the minutest details OF
all birds that live long enough to
n INF q
important change this season is in the de-
| vice for marking the birds. 1t was formerly
done by marking the feathers and attaching
a tag, but henceforth light seamless band
of silverplated nickel will be put around the
birds leg, every band sent out from Mrs
| STAIRS headquarters having different mum
Der inscribed on il. The band is Slipped
over pigeons foot as soon as it is Matched
and SO rapidly do the birds grow that In
eight days the band could neither be re
moved nor a similar one put on. Yet it /:
never too small for the leg, and in no way
| does 1t act to the discomfort OF the flyer
Speaking of the general subject of pigeon
| flying, Mr.. Starr said:
Il think you would be surprised il you
knew how many people keep birds for the
actual work of carrying messages. A great
many men in all of the large cities take birds
with them to their offices, and at some period
of the day, when they have occasion to send
word home, they attach message to the
pigeon and release it. But suppose thai
the principal incentive to the cultivation Of
message birds is for racing. Although
young birds, those Matched within the veal
often make good records, am inclined tC
think that pigeon does not become fully
mature until it is 10 years old. They theI
seem to have the maximum of sense ano
speed. In this country we have great dea
Of trouble with hunters. If they would lei
the birds alone we should lose very few from
any other causes. Pigeons are on record
that have run races at the age of 20. In Bel
gium great deal of attention is paid to fly.
ing, and the birds are highly cultivated anc
| live to considerable age.'
Previous to each racing season the bird:
are trained by making them practice short
distance flies. They are taken ten miles OF
so from home and then liberated This kinC
Of training Is Just beginning in preparation
for the races of the coming season, of whicf
there will be many and good ones.'